can a wisdom tooth suddenly become a problem at the age of 50?
Hello and Good Evening Everyone,
I visited a general dentist about 15 days ago for a toothache which started on May 1st. Upon her examination, she was surprised to see a wisdom tooth embedded deep within the gum next to the jaw bone which is definitely in front of the tooth which is hurting. She also found the tooth next to the aching one to be infected or abcessed. She feels like the "true" pain is coming from the tooth that has a filling with a bad cavity underneath of it which is infected. She says that she hopes it is not the wisdom tooth causing the pain at the last back lower tooth. In response to her diagnois, she prescribed pencillin VK for the infection and hydrocodone for the pain. While the antibiotic did seem to help in reducing the episodes of the extreme pain from the tooth, the discomfort is coming back following the completion of the antibiotic. She did recommend having a tooth extraction performed on the tooth with the filling which is infected on the 30th of this month by an oral surgeon.
With everything being said, I am a bit nervious about having a tooth extraction especially if the cause of the toothache happens to be the wisdom tooth pushing against the roots of the back tooth. But, I am 50 years old though. If the wisdom tooth is actually the cause of the toothache, should I have been experiencing problems much earlier or several years ago? The general dentist and dental assistant believe that there is a 90% chance or greater that the pain is caused by the abcessed tooth next to it. What does everyone think regarding this concern?
Thanks
George
I visited a general dentist about 15 days ago for a toothache which started on May 1st. Upon her examination, she was surprised to see a wisdom tooth embedded deep within the gum next to the jaw bone which is definitely in front of the tooth which is hurting. She also found the tooth next to the aching one to be infected or abcessed. She feels like the "true" pain is coming from the tooth that has a filling with a bad cavity underneath of it which is infected. She says that she hopes it is not the wisdom tooth causing the pain at the last back lower tooth. In response to her diagnois, she prescribed pencillin VK for the infection and hydrocodone for the pain. While the antibiotic did seem to help in reducing the episodes of the extreme pain from the tooth, the discomfort is coming back following the completion of the antibiotic. She did recommend having a tooth extraction performed on the tooth with the filling which is infected on the 30th of this month by an oral surgeon.
With everything being said, I am a bit nervious about having a tooth extraction especially if the cause of the toothache happens to be the wisdom tooth pushing against the roots of the back tooth. But, I am 50 years old though. If the wisdom tooth is actually the cause of the toothache, should I have been experiencing problems much earlier or several years ago? The general dentist and dental assistant believe that there is a 90% chance or greater that the pain is caused by the abcessed tooth next to it. What does everyone think regarding this concern?
Thanks
George
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ASKER
Hello and Good Evening Everyone,
Thanks so much for the followup advise. After reviewing everything, I do have a few followup questions. First, how long will it take for the area to heal following the tooth extraction? Secondly, will I be put on any kind of special light diet until the area heals? Thirdly, how long will I have to wait until I can eat on that side of my mouth? Fourth, how long can the bleeding expect to last following the oral surgery? And, finally, what can be done to prevent dry socket?
George
Thanks so much for the followup advise. After reviewing everything, I do have a few followup questions. First, how long will it take for the area to heal following the tooth extraction? Secondly, will I be put on any kind of special light diet until the area heals? Thirdly, how long will I have to wait until I can eat on that side of my mouth? Fourth, how long can the bleeding expect to last following the oral surgery? And, finally, what can be done to prevent dry socket?
George
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ASKER
Hello and Good Afternoon Everyone,
I am in the process of trying to locate a local oral surgeon to meet my needs as recommended by my general dentist. At this point, it is a bit tricky because of the issue of trying to locate an in-network oral surgeon provider which honors Assurant Dental Insurance. While I do have a list of general dentist which accept my insurance, I do not have a list of oral surgeons. I did email a representative at Assurant requesting assistance on this matter.
At this point, I do have one more followup curiousity about wisdom teeth. Is it fairly common or normal for a wisdom tooth to move around while embedded within the gum? Or, do they typically stay in one spot over time?
In closing, I sincerely thank each and everyone of you for the followup suggestions and advise. Since I am a little nervous about this entire thing, it is nice being able to get reassuring advise on this matter.
Thank you
George
I am in the process of trying to locate a local oral surgeon to meet my needs as recommended by my general dentist. At this point, it is a bit tricky because of the issue of trying to locate an in-network oral surgeon provider which honors Assurant Dental Insurance. While I do have a list of general dentist which accept my insurance, I do not have a list of oral surgeons. I did email a representative at Assurant requesting assistance on this matter.
At this point, I do have one more followup curiousity about wisdom teeth. Is it fairly common or normal for a wisdom tooth to move around while embedded within the gum? Or, do they typically stay in one spot over time?
In closing, I sincerely thank each and everyone of you for the followup suggestions and advise. Since I am a little nervous about this entire thing, it is nice being able to get reassuring advise on this matter.
Thank you
George
SOLUTION
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If that medication did not work well, ask for what my dentist gave me.
800MG Ibuprofen.
800MG Ibuprofen.
ASKER
Hello and Good Evening Everyone,
I want to sincerely thank everyone for your shared suggestions, advise, and past experiences which center around what I am about to go through in resolving this concern. It is comforting getting an overall picture of what to expect following the completion of the removal of the abscessed tooth and wisdom tooth. Every comment was easy to understand and certainly made a great deal of sense. I am sure I will feel a great deal better too within a week or less following the oral surgery.
Many thanks once again everyone.
George
I want to sincerely thank everyone for your shared suggestions, advise, and past experiences which center around what I am about to go through in resolving this concern. It is comforting getting an overall picture of what to expect following the completion of the removal of the abscessed tooth and wisdom tooth. Every comment was easy to understand and certainly made a great deal of sense. I am sure I will feel a great deal better too within a week or less following the oral surgery.
Many thanks once again everyone.
George
GMartin - You are most welcome and I was happy to share my experience and knowledge with you.
I have been told that some don't believe it but, three of my wisdom teeth came in with no problem due to the fact that I had 5 permanent molars removed at age 14. I am now 54 and I started having tooth pain on tooth # 16 which was right beside the one wisdom tooth that was left unerupted. It turned out that tooth 16 was abscessed and that the wisdom tooth was butting up against the bad molar. I had that molar removed -side note- the dentist wanted to remove the wisdom tooth also but I declined thinking, hoping that it would come in and replace the molar. The wisdom tooth is peeking through and appears to be moving into the molar position. I guess I am just lucky. does this happen often I wonder.
An infection in a root is almost certain to cause trouble.